After six weeks of bumps, sets, and spikes, (and lots of hits and giggles) the Mean Green Serving Machine (MGSM) eked out an undefeated season. Actually, if you ask the players, they were masters of the universe, they dominated! Karch Kiraly, you better be watching the program for future talent.
As champions of the intramural volleyball program for the Academy in Westminster the players gained bragging rights as the best elementary team in the school. For six weeks, they listened in practice, they learned new skills and improved existing ones, they tried hard, they felt good about their accomplishments, and they were the best.
From a broader perspective, the real significance of the victory was that the kids were able to gain instruction beyond their physical education class and test their skills in a competitive environment in an elementary school intramural program. Programs like this don’t exist everywhere, but they should!
Here’s the scoop about the program:
• Teams included boys and girls in the 3rd through 6th grades.
• Light balls were used to make it easier for the younger players.
• The program was run by the elementary physical education teacher. Parents and members of the community coached the teams. Most had experience coaching volleyball or other sports. From that perspective it was a step above most recreation programs.
• Since the Academy is a K-12 charter school, players from the junior high and high school teams served as mentors and assistant coaches.
• There were 6 teams with 8 to 10 players each, or about 55 total players. This is about 15% of the kids at this grade level, a remarkable percentage given the number of competing activities in the community.
• Practices and games were held on Saturdays for six weeks. Each team practiced an hour (8:00, 9:00, or 10:00) and matches were played between 11:00 and 2:00.
• Team fees were minimal and the price included a t-shirt that the kids proudly wore to the practices and games.
• Each match included two games to 25. A third, and sometimes deciding, game to 15 was always played, no matter who won the first two games.
• The 3rd and 4th graders served from a special line closer to the net. In addition, they got two chances the first time they served.
• The better serving team won most games, yet there was no restriction on the number of consecutive points a team could win (welcome to the dog-eat-dog world). Not to worry, no team has ever won a match 25-0.
• There was ongoing substitution so everyone played the same amount of time.
• The teams made up their own name. As might be expected, the MGSM had Kelly green jerseys. The league’s award for the best sense of humor went to the team with the neon yellow t-shirts. Their moniker was the Highlighters.
• For the older players, the practice and competition were as important as the snacks after the game.
The value of the program extended beyond the boundaries of the court into the hallways and community. The upperclassmen made friends with the younger players – they became their friends and role models in the hallways, lunchroom and on the playground. In many cases parents met parents they wouldn’t have met otherwise.
The program demonstrated that value of youth sports programs. Players, parents, and the entire school community were all winners.
For data on participation in youth sports click here.
